Exar Licenses PowerXR Technology to Zarlink Semiconductor for Residential Gateway Platforms

FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Exar Corporation (Nasdaq: EXAR), today announced it has entered into a product license agreement with Zarlink Semiconductor (TSX: ZL).  This agreement significantly expands the available market for both Companies by delivering dynamic power management and monitoring products to residential gateways. Exar's PowerXR technology will be used with Zarlink's low power voice solutions to provide programmable solutions that will exceed energy efficiency requirements for residential gateways as outlined by the Home Gateway Initiative.

"Exar is pleased to be working with Zarlink to drive the adoption of programmable power technology into the residential gateway market," said Pete Rodriguez, President and CEO, Exar. "Zarlink's leadership position in the rapidly growing residential gateway market, combined with the system benefits offered by Exar's PowerXR products, will deliver new features and capabilities not seen previously in these markets."

"Meeting worldwide energy efficiency standards is a key requirement for customers designing new residential gateway products," said Gary Tanner, President and CEO, Zarlink Semiconductor.  "Zarlink and Exar are pleased to announce this collaborative partnership, which delivers the benefits of our market leading voice solutions together with Exar's digital power technology to our customers. We believe that this combination of products, expertise and customer relationships will benefit both companies as we target the fast-growing residential gateway market."

"Digital power technology is revolutionizing the power market and growing at 45.2% CAGR," said Marijana Vukicevic principal analyst at IHS. "While the initial adoption of digital power has been targeting high-end applications, new cost-effective solutions demonstrate that digital power is a mainstream technology, meeting the demands of high volume commercial markets."

The Companies anticipate the first combined solutions will be available starting in September, with additional product details forthcoming.

About Exar

Exar Corporation delivers highly differentiated silicon, software and subsystem solutions for industrial, consumer, and enterprise applications. For over 40 years, Exar's comprehensive knowledge of end-user markets along with the underlying analog/mixed signal and digital technologies has enabled innovative solutions that meet the needs of the evolving connected world. Exar's technology portfolio includes solutions for power management, serial interfaces, packet-based and TDM wireline communications, enterprise storage optimization, and data security. Exar has locations worldwide providing real-time customer support to drive rapid product development. For more information about Exar, visit: www.exar.com.

About Zarlink Semiconductor

Zarlink Semiconductor delivers world-leading, mixed-signal chip technologies for a broad range of communication and medical applications. The Company's core capabilities include timing solutions that manage time-sensitive communication applications over wireless and wired networks, line circuits supporting high-quality voice services over cable and broadband connections, and ultra low-power radios enabling new wireless medical devices and therapies. Serving the world's largest original equipment manufacturers, Zarlink's highly integrated chip solutions help customers simplify design, lower costs and reach market quickly. For more information, visit www.zarlink.com.

SOURCE Exar Corporation